To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Not only has it been requested that my blog get an update, but I, too, have become a little tired of what I've got going on on here. I mean, what Kate gave me could not be more "ME". I LOVE purple, and I LOVE smiley faces. I've got all that here. I LOVE my family, and they're here, too. Oh, but it needs a facelift.

Anyway, I'm scared to ask how much it costs to have someone make one for you. I'd honestly prefer someone who knows me at least somewhat do it for me, as I'm not your run-of-the-mill chick. If anyone can help lead me in the right direction of someone who will hook me up and make my blog look uber-cool, I'd appreciate it. I actually know of a lot of people who can do this, but I hate to ask. I feel like if someone comes to me, there won't be the whole obligation b/c she asked kinda thing or whatever...

I was kinda let down today. I had to deliver a couple of pizzas to the nearby fire dept. tonight. On the way, I fantasized about a bunch of guys sitting at the station all sprawled out w/o shirts on, and all very cut and hot. Of course they were either sweating or covered in oil, as their chests were all glistening in the overhead light. They all had the uniform pants on, you know, with one suspender on the shoulder deal, and were just dying for a piece of pizza. When I entered with the pizza, they all hoorahed and lifted me (and my VERY pregnant ass!) up onto their shoulders and cheered. It was great!

Yeah, so when I finally found the door to this fire station, one guy answers it. He's not fat, but he's not skinny, and he's more interested in making sure I brought the right pizzas than how hot he looks or the fact that I'm his hero for bringing them. He pays me, then hears a beep on his radio, then quickly shoos me off w/a crappy $2 tip!

My fantasy is SOOOOOOO lost! I'm thinking maybe I should stop looking at those calendars of firemen. What do you think? Amanda says hot firemen like that can only be found in New York. Hmmmm....

Yesterday, TJ finally started riding his big-boy bike. He did such a good job! He and Daddy rode all the way down the road together, and TJ was going really, really fast!

It was cute, yet pretty annoying, how if he would stop he would get SOOOOO frustrated trying to get started again. Trey hates that the pedals brake when you push them backwards. I'm sure TJ will get used to it, though.

I made $91 last night at work, which is AWESOME for a Sunday. I'm glad I did, too, b/c I had to call in tonight. I wasn't feeling well last night, but I pushed through. I don't see that happening today. I feel AWFUL. So does Taryn. She's napping right now, and she just woke up, very late, a couple of hours ago. My mom suffered through watching the kids last night, as she is also miserably sick. TJ and Trey seem completely fine, of course. This must be some kind of girl cold or something.

I'm a little scared, too. My boss asked me today while I was calling in how far along I am. She asked if I'm dilated yet. I told her I don't know (especially since I kinda, uhhh, accidentally slept through my appt. this morning!), but I doubt I am. I hope she doesn't cut my hours. I can understand how she might need to start looking for someone else to be her closer, since I will definitely be gone for at least a month, and I close five days a week. I need the money until I have the baby, though. I figure if nothing else, I can just beg people to let me close for them, and they won't argue. I've yet to see someone turn down an offer to close for them. They certainly don't ever want to pick up a closing shift, that's for sure.

Anyway, I'm off to rest up now. I have two days to get better before I have to go back to work. Wish me luck!

Today I wasn't scheduled to work, but the bosslady asked me if I could come in during the rush b/c it was set to be BUSY. I need the money, so I said alright. I was scheduled to go in at 6 and leave around 9 or 10. Somehow, though, someone put CL (Closer) next to my name instead of 10. Then they sent the actual closing driver home. The next thing I knew, I was stuck closing. I actually didn't have to if I had felt like arguing it, but I was on a roll, and what were a couple more hours? I ended up making a little over $80, which averaged to about $14/hr. in tips and gas money. Not bad, I suppose. What is bad, though, is that it's almost 2 am now, and I just finished eating supper. Somehow I managed to forget to eat all night long, and suddenly the pain hit me around 12:30 when I was heading home. Like, how the hell do you forget to eat, especially when you're pregnant!?

I took Taryn for her 15 mo. checkup yesterday. We had to wait for TWO HOURS at the doctor's office for the appt. to be over. No, I wasn't squeezed in, I made the appt. three months ago! I watched people walk in after me and get called back before me, then leave before I'd even been called back! My children were wild, and had refused even the thought of napping earlier. It was SO AWFUL! Needless to say, I will be looking for a new pediatrician. Soooo, if you live in the Chas. area, and know of anyone good, please let me know...Like who the hell makes someone with two small children, who's PREGNANT, wait for TWO HOURS!!! Especially at a PEDIATRICIAN! I'm just beside myself on this one.

Oh, and apparently I'm having muscle spasms in my legs as I sleep (or attempt to, at least) at night. Trey said I woke him up about five times last night when I would kick the footboard of our bed. He said it's really loud. I can believe that, b/c I do remember at least once waking up and screaming out in pain from it. Then, I have the pleasure in the morning of my foot being swollen and sore from it. Ain't it great!? I'm so ready for this pregnancy to be over with. I think that just to be safe, I'll never have sex again, so I don't run the risk of becoming prego again.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you have a great day, and I'll see you soon!

Do you know what's just frustrating to me? It's going to the doctor, sitting there FOREVER, and then finding out that nothing's really wrong. That's why I usually try to just avoid going period. I took Taryn today b/c my mom has a sinus infection, and Taryn's been acting and seeming pretty sick lately (and does NOT like getting her nose wiped!), so I took Taryn to the good ol' doc. We were there over an hour, and I think maybe five minutes of it was spent w/the doctor. That just makes me ANGRY! I just can't get why pediatricians do this especially. I mean, surely they have to understand that we're dealing w/kids here. I think that if they're going to make us wait so long, they should have clowns, balloons, a circus...something to entertain the kids besides a waiting room with a couple of torn books and one of those wooden things w/beads on metal loops and stuff. I just don't get why they can't schedule a few less people each day, and then manage to fit them all in at the right time. Shoot, if it's a good day, the doc might even get a break for a change!

Anyway, I'm glad to say that Taryn's not dying or anything. She may still have a sinus infection, the dr. wasn't sure b/c it takes a while for it to settle in. I have to keep an eye on her. Fear not, though, b/c we're going right back on Thurs. for Taryn's 15 month well-check, which of course I couldn't just have them do today. Ahhhhhh.......ain't being a parent just great!

I'm pretty sure I'm nesting now. I've suddenly become very, very bothered by the state of my house. I mean, yes, I have slacked off lately in cleaning, simply b/c I'm exhausted just from thinking about it. I've kept it to a point to where it doesn't irritate and madden me when I see my house, though. Now, I'm very irritated and angered by it all. Today Trey got up early and dragged me out of bed looonnnngggg before I was ready, and we cleaned up some. There's still tons of stuff to do, as we never really finished unpacking everything, but it's at least a start. I'm so mad that I have to go to work in an hour, b/c I'd much rather be at home cleaning. I did manage to pull out all of Taryn's winter clothes and get them ready, and get rid of the summer ones that don't fit anymore. The rest I can just chunk into a bad once it's cold enough, and I'm done with it. I think tomorrow I will try to tackle the boys' room and get the baby's stuff incorporated in there. I wish I had the time and energy to paint, b/c I know exactly what I want to do w/both kids' rooms, and it will look AWESOME!!! I suppose I should just be happy with my baby steps for now, though, eh?

Well, it's time to eat before I leave now. Hope you're having a great day and I'll see you soon.

TJ had his first ever soccer game today. I gotta say...at least he really likes his coach! I think he spent the whole game in total confusion. When he was sitting, Trey and I would tell him to kick the ball, all by himself, into the goal, and he totally got it. Then he would go onto the field and just stand there looking around like, "What the hell is going on?" The whole time I spent screaming, "TJ, run after the ball!" and "TJ, let go of her hand and run after the ball!" Well, at least the coach didn't mind him holding her hand the whole time. He said he liked it, though. We'll have to work some this week on the whole, oh, I dunno, everything!

Click here and you can see a couple of pics from the game. Yeah, that uniform totally swallows him up!

Oh, and btw, even though they don't keep score, our team TOTALLY wiped out the other team! It appears we have a couple of the older kids who've been playing a couple years on our team who are total soccer junkies. Guess I'll have to learn their names, eh?

On another note, I scared myself today. It was more fun than I thought it would be, and I really wanted TJ to get into it. I'm scared I may become one of those "soccer moms", if you know what I mean!

I went to Once Upon a Child yesterday, which is one of my favorite baby consignment stores, and they didn't have one in Columbia. I saw a Dora toddler bed for $35, and that seemed reasonable. So I told my mom, and we decided that today we would go on a hunt for a bed for Taryn, or a crib for the baby. I looked online later and found out that a Dora toddler bed brand new at Wal-Mart is only $39 (albeit the one at the con. store had the mattress w/it, which I don't need). I figured worst case, I'd just go buy that one. Although, to be honest, I have never had, nor ever will have the desire to buy cartoon character beds and furniture...the little crap is enough! I also went on craigslist, which Kurt got me hooked on, and happened to find an ad for two cribs that someone was trying to get rid of. It just so happened that she emailed me back, and told me she had found them in her attic when she moved in. We went over to her house today and she so graciously gave them both to me for $20! Now tell me that's not AWESOME! I have since cleaned them and put one together to be Taryn's new crib. It just happens to match the color of the wood on her dresser PERFECTLY, and it's one of those Jenny Lind (isn't that what the design is called?), which I think looks pretty girly. I still need to wash her dust ruffle and put it back on, but...I'm using our old one for the new baby, b/c it matches the furniture best in TJ's room. The new one will be sold or something. Tell me that's not cool.

This new crib and going and buying about $300 worth of clothes for the baby (and some for TJ and Taryn) today w/my mom (she only paid $30 though, b/c she's awesome like that!) has gotten me all excited about little Cole-to-be. I think tomorrow I'm going to try to rearrange TJ's dresser and closet to accommodate his stuff, and work on getting some of it put up and ready to go. I think I might be nesting, too, b/c suddenly the state of the house is driving me NUTS! I almost killed myself getting the cribs set up in the respected rooms tonight, but IT HAD TO BE DONE! I see stuff from when we moved in that hasn't been dealt with, and I'm going crazy inside just wanting it all done, but not having the energy to get it all done. I'M LOSING IT!!!

Anyway, I guess I'll be going now. I want to look through our loot from today before I hit the hay. TJ's first soccer game is tomorrow morning, so wish us luck! Oh, and btw, Kurt, thanks for the on your knees thing, it totally worked!

I'm so nervous and sad! It rained non-stop all night tonight, and looks like it's going to rain more tomorrow. TJ is supposed to have soccer practice tomorrow. Trey said it's supposed to rain all day Saturday, and TJ's first game is Saturday! Oh, I think I'm gonna cry! I have been waiting in eager anticipation of this since July now, and now it looks like I might have to wait another week! What's so bad about indoor soccer fields???

This baby is gonna be a hairy one, I'm guessing. I heard it was a myth about having heartburn and that meaning you'd have a hairy baby. However, I had pretty much none at all w/TJ, and he was virtually hairless. I had it for the whole second half w/Taryn, and she was full-headed. This kid is looking the same way. I'm really getting tired of it. Plus, now I eat half a meal, and I'm stuffed...However, I'm still hungry! I just don't get it!

Well, I hope you're having a great day. Please pray it stops raining here and everything just miraculously dries up! I'll talk to you soon!

This morning I went to the good ol' doc. I am SOOOOO happy from what she told me. She said that since I got pregnant so close to Taryn being born, that she doubts I'll make it the whole forty weeks. Sooooo, she said I may have to make some back-up plans for Halloween...which I already have...since I might be a little unable to make the rounds around the block. I know I'm getting too excited about this, especially since my kids tend to want to come late. I'd just be happy, honestly, if he came by his due date, and not weeks later. Still, I can't help but hope that he comes a little early. That would TOTALLY rock!

Anyway, last night Julia and I celebrated our twentieth anniversary of being friends by going to the Violent Femmes concert. All I can say is that IT FUCKING KICKED ASS!!!!!! I loved every second of it! Their opener was awful, and they took forever to come on stage to begin...but man, once they did, it was the best live band I've ever seen. As if they weren't the shiznit already, they are even better live. I boogied till it hurt, literally, and I've been sore all day from it! I was upset b/c I thought they weren't going to play my favorite song of theirs, "Kiss Off". They left the stage, and we stomped and chanted for more. They came back...and played it! HOORAY! I danced, balls to the wall with everything I had, for the whole song. It was so awesome! When it was over, I had to bend over and hold my knees b/c I was out of breath and on the verge of passing out, literally. It was completely worth it, though. I hope they come back, b/c I would love to see them again, especially not pregnant the next time!

I guess that's enough for now. I hope you all had a great day. My night at work sucked, but in the end I was only a few dollars shy of my goal for the night, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. Now I'm going to go lick my wounds from last night a little more...talk to you later!

Today was a pretty good day at work. I made decent tips, and although I felt bad, had fun while it was slow. I've worked nearly five days straight this week, and I think it's killing me. Thank goodness I have tomorrow off...so Julia and I can go see THE VIOLENT FEMMES!!!! I can hardly wait!

TJ had his first soccer practice the other night. He was soooo adorable! I got him some little red socks to cover his pee-wee shin guards, and he was picture perfect! I'm sorry I have no pics, though. I think my batteries for my camera need to be replaced, b/c I couldn't get them to work. I video-taped it, but I don't know how to get that online just yet. He did really well kicking the ball, and got it into the goal w/little trouble. He didn't get the "penguin walk" where they kinda walk/kicked the ball, and just frammed it across the field. He also didn't really listen very well, and just kinda stood there when they played red light/green light until the coach came and told him to go! She learned his name fast, as he had to be reminded over and over again when it was his turn to do something. At one point, she had the whole group of them around her, and TJ was off to the side swinging his arms back and forth and staring into space. Ahhhhh, that's my boy. I just hope he has fun. He really was excited about it, and has been asking when he gets to go back, so hopefully this will work out. Mainly, I want him to learn about sportsmanship, teamwork, and how to listen to other people besides his family tell him what to do.

This baby is really doing a number on me lately. I hurt all over. I'm always excessively tired, even after a good night's sleep. I'm in cohoots right now w/Julia, and we are going to try to plan a baby "celebration" for little Cole. I really don't want to have a shower, as I have everything I need w/the exception of a carseat for later and a crib. However, I feel bad that he won't get one, and the other two got two showers each. Sooooo, I want to have a coed party for him where we have fun games and kids and everything. I figure if anyone wants to bring a gift, I can tell them a small donation toward the crib and carseat would be appreciated, or else some diapers. What do you think? Any ideas?

What kind of dressing on your salad? ranch, either from Trey's work, or Hidden Valley, Kraft is ICKY!

Coke or Pepsi? I think I prefer Coke, but I dunno, we usually drink Sam's Choice...diet ONLY

You’re feeling lazy. What do you make? nothing, I'd rather just starve than get up

What kind of pizza do you order? Hawaiian for the kids and me, and pepperoni for Trey

You feel like cooking. What do you make? I get those little casserole in a box things, does that count?

Do any foods bring back good memories? Grandma's macaroni and cheese...nobody can make it like her...it reminds me of every Thanksgiving and Christmas

Do any foods bring back bad memories? pork chops remind me of when Daddy used to drown them in Nature's Seasoning and cook them till they were tougher than shoe leather...I was afraid to eat them for a LONG time once I was on my own!

Do any foods remind you of someone??? Cabbage and Sausage reminds me of Mommy, she used to make it really well...of course, I never see it anywhere else, but I think of it and her sometimes!

Is there a food you refuse to eat? liver

What was your favorite food as a child? Grandma's macaroni and cheese

Is there a food that you hated as a child but now love? spinach...but I still don't like it cooked, just raw

Is there a food that you loved as a child but now hate? cheese slices

Favorite fruit & vegetable: strawberries and green beans

Favorite junk food: anything w/chocolate in it!

Favorite between meal snack: I don't snack much b/c it takes effort to find some food

Do you have any weird food habits? Just that food stresses me out beyond belief...I'd rather not eat than have to think of something to eat...then have to make it!

You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? veggies and popcorn

You’re off your diet. Now what would you like? chocolate

How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? I've never had Indian, and I had Thai once...it was just plain yucky

Can I get you a drink? sure, water or diet coke

Red wine or white? I don't like wine, but I'll drink some spumante or something bubbly

We only have beer: GUINNESS!!!

Favorite dessert? tiramisu

The perfect nightcap? Not that I drink them, but I'll take a margarita anytime!

Today my mom found out for me that TJ's first soccer practice is tomorrow afternoon. TOMORROW AFTERNOON!!! He gets to start tomorrow! I'm so excited! I can't wait to see him running around on the field with his new little team and hopefully at least trying to kick the ball. I really hope he likes it. When I got home from work tonight, he was still awake, so I went in and told him all about how he gets to go to his first practice tomorrow. I talked it up a bit, and he seemed excited. It would be so great if he liked it. I want him to have something special to do that is not really with us and that teaches him teamwork. My only fear is that he will get mad if he can't kick the ball or something. He tends to give up quickly when he has a tough time and get really mad (which usually involves something being thrown). He has his mommy's temper! Julia told me that her son is kinda like that, and he's awesome at soccer. So I'm guessing that if TJ actually likes soccer, and he's not in his comfort zone with me, then he might do well. Oh, I hope so! Maybe I'll try to "practice" kicking the ball with him tomorrow afternoon to get him pepped up for it...

Well, I'm off to bed now. I'm SOOOO tired-have been all day for some strange reason. I hope you have a great day, and I'll let you know asap how his practice went.

In my mind, at this very moment, that means REALLY tired. No, wait, HUGELY tired. Oh, I dunno, something like that...

Somehow today was a long day. I didn't get even close to what I wanted to done. I still haven't given up on finishing some of it, but the more relaxed I get sitting here, the less I think that's gonna happen!

We all, as in my mom, Bo, and the kids and I, went to Trey's new California Dreaming tonight for dinner. It was a pleasant dinner overall. My tea stayed filled, and that's just how I like it! It was hella-busy there, as usual. My server had no idea who Trey was yet, so it was fun trying to tell her to give the check to him when dinner was over. I think I may have forgotten to tell her he's my hubby, but oh well. I think there are a few people still working there from when I was there, but I only saw two, Ray and Melissa. They are both crazy fun people, and Ray and I always said we were gonna run away together. Anyway, I think I have a lot of work to do. There are a lot of pretty girls working there, and they all need to know who I am, so there's no confusion over whether or not they can fall in love with Trey. You know how it is when you have a hot hubby w/a good sense of humor, right? Of course, they have to figure out who the hell he is first!

Afterwards, we went back to my mom's house, and I helped her cut her hair. She is pissed at her regular hair stylist, so she decided I would just do it for her. I have to say, I think I did a pretty damn good job of it. She only really wanted me to cut the back, but I did get ahold of the top some and the sides. I used all the tips I learned from watching Nick on "What Not to Wear". I did a bit of a fringed look in the back (she has short hair) and made it all look natural and not blocky, which you get when you cut in straight lines. She was getting worried, b/c I was getting a little too confident, and she just knew I was going to leave a bald spot somewhere! When I finished hers, I trimmed Taryn's bangs just a wee bit, then cut TJ's hair, too. Now if I could just find someone to do mine, and then cut Trey's, we'd all be one big, happy trimmed up family!

Well, Trey's home now. Guess I should go find out about his day. Hope your day goes well, and I'll see you soon!